Student stops

Whether you are looking for an affordable cafe or a cool place to chill with friends, here's a list of the best new student hangouts in the city.

advertisement

Prachi Sibal

Bangalore June 15, 2018

ISSUE DATE: June 25, 2018

UPDATED: August 7, 2018 22:25 IST

The cheerful interiors of Boho

Budget Smart/ Boho

The Vibe A chic cafe in Koramangala. Boho can easily pass off as an uptown bar. "When my husband Rajeev and I returned from Indonesia, we wanted to start a restaurant. The pub culture in the city changed our minds and we set up an affordable bar for travellers and youngsters alike," says Vartika Arora, 42, owner and director.

The cheerful interiors of Boho

USP It's Boho's cool vibe and affordable menu that has youngsters returning for seconds. There's something interesting here in every corner-from a parachuteshaped lamp to knick-knacks that work as conversation starters and music that adds to its bohemian vibe. Wednesdays are ladies nights for young working women and students while Saturdays feature a full DJ set for tyhose looking to shake a leg. Top Draw Fiery paneer tikka, BBQ chicken wings, chicken lollipops and steaks.

The Vibe You feel like you have entered a new world when you set foot in the newest outlet of Breakout, the city's oldest escape game venue. The decor is Middle Eastern, with props piled on one side and faux mud walls that collectively act as a photo booth. All the game rooms are unique and visitors are given a choice between solving a murder mystery, rescuing a kidnapped person, robbing a bank or playing CIA. The objective is to follow a set of clues and use them to escape from the room. Escape games are all the rage in the city as you can be intellectually stimulated while having fun with friends.

Find your escape room at Breakout. Photo by Lantern Camera

USP "Although there's no dearth of escape game centres in the city, at Breakout clues aren't just clues. We recreate an entire world, as close to the real one as possible, immerse you in the story and every clue you find has a link to the narrative," explains Hareesh Mothi, 31, founder, who first played an escape game in Poland and has been hooked since. Launching soon, to keep to the theme of the space is a game called Pharoah that will recreate an Indiana Jones-esque experience right here in the city.

The Vibe This is as typical as a college hangout gets- with fuss-free comfortable furniture, minimalist yet quirky decor and prompt service that's perfect for grabbing a quick bite before heading home after college. Crowded on most days, you are bound to run into other college mates here.

Burgers are the highlight of Bundar. Photo by Lantern Camera

USP "It started as a concept of meals with bread-'bun ke andar'-which soon became bundar. We initially had freshly baked breads of all kinds such as burgers, hot dogs, pita, pao and focaccia. But as the burgers accounted for 70 percent of our sales, we decided to focus on them," says Elroy Colin Moras, 27, founder who had first tried his hand at finance, IT and HR before venturing into food. "I've always loved cooking and most of the recipes here are from my own kitchen. Besides, we are amongst the few all-meat places in the area," he adds.

The Vibe When Nihal Kapoor, 27 and his father Surendranath Kapoor, 54, went to a wedding in the Northern part of the country, they saw cups of tea being served everywhere and on every occasion. The popularity of the beverage had gone far beyond cups of milky tea brewed at home. They decided to bring a piece of this culture back to Bangalore and started their first Chai Galli outlet two years ago. Last year, they opened their second outlet in Koramanagala, in close proximity to Jyoti Niwas College, and students can't stop raving about the brews.

Here is where you can enjoy piping hot adrak chai with Maggi. Photo by Deepak G Pawar

The interior is inviting with a dash of nostalgia-with framed old film posters (think Mughal-e-Azam and Dilwale Dulhania le Jayenge) and tea being served in aluminium pots with packets of Parle-G.

USP While Chai Galli has an extensive and inventive menu of tea and snacks, piping hot glasses of adrak chai with a soulful bowl of Maggi is what students throng here for on a rainy Bangalore evening. There are risottos and pastas with an Indian twist as well as the predictable vada pav and dabeli.

Students' Choice Adrak and masala chai and Assam and Nilgiris for those looking for a milk-free brew. "Also popular is 'Bulldozed', an iced tea with Red Bull for students who need to return to a pile of books. From the food menu, the corn shots, baked puchkas filled with corn and cream cheese and the khakhra pizza are very popular," says Harsh Kapoor, 22, director. At 59, Ground Floor, Opposite Jyoti Niwas College, 5th Block, Koramangala Tel 5532224 Price Rs 400 for two onwards

Waffles on the go/ Belgian Waffle Factory

The Vibe A yellow and black theme runs through this little cafe where you will find youngsters digging into waffles of all kinds. Launched over a year ago with the idea of revolutionising the popular snack, Belgian Waffle Factory is everything it promises to be-quick, messy and delightfully sinful. "My brother Naimun and his wife had gone to Belgium and found waffles at every street corner, while here it was something you sat down on a table for. They procured a family recipe, we tweaked it to local tastes and before we knew it, Bangalore Waffle Factory was born," says Wasim Khan, 35, managing director.

USP Waffles on the go, packed in little cones with generous toppings, sets this place apart from others in the city. At close proximity to schools and colleges like St Joseph's, you'll often see a student or two walk by while biting into a loaded waffle.

The Vibe True to its name, this little eatery located close to MS Ramaiah University has plates everywhere, including on the walls as decor. Your food however may turn up in a pan or on top of a cheese board while the drinks are served in mason jars. The seating at Plated is casual and comfortable, with a few high tables thrown in for good measure. Your will find yourself surrounded by the familiar chatter of college students as you let the vibrant colours brighten your day.

Please your palate with freshly plated food. Photo by Lantern Camera

USP "Started a year ago, the idea with Plated was to serve clean, fresh, pre-plated food that didn't restrict itself to a particular cuisine," says Aditya Atreya, 35, owner. With over 250 dishes from a variety of cuisines such as Malayali, Bengali, Middle Eastern and French, you will truly be spoilt for choice. And if you're not the experimental variety, opt for comfort foods like burgers, pizzas, waffles or pancakes.

The Vibe Amongst the coolest cafes in town, at Echoes you'll find pots and pans on one wall, plenty of cool spots for group selfies and fun music that will keep the mood up as you relax with friends.

Echoes is the perfect chill-spot. Photo by Lantern Camera

USP It is the concept that sets Echoes apart from any other cafe of its kind. The staff here is hearing and speech impaired and you need to place your order using sign language. There are placards with common asks to help you out and a light buzzer to call for assistance. "It was launched as a means of providing employment to the differently-abled. Once we knew they are capable of surviving in a mainstream industry, we created this platform for them," explains Himanshu Bahuguna, 26, operations manager.

The Vibe Gone are the days when sitting at a cafe for gossip sessions meant ordering a beverage or snack every now and then, for places like Dialogues have changed the cafe culture in the city. With laidback cane chairs, bean bags, an open terrace and a high table where you can set up your workstations, this place is all about having a good time at leisure.

This is where you can sit for hours, uninterrupted. Photo by Lantern Camera

USP "You pay for the time here and not the food," says Ankit Gupta, 31, co-founder, who gave up his job as a mining engineer to setup the cafe with partner Udaikiran. "We want you to treat this place like your second home, where you sit and chat uninterrupted or finish up your assignments with easy access to internet and a printer, all on the house," he adds.

Students' Choice The menu is simple and changes every day with a few constant favourites. "The chicken sandwich, pasta in white sauce and pancakes are popular as is our freshly brewed masala chai," says Gupta.

Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from